|
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Bautista shows off his power at the gym
TEENAGE knockout sensation Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is slowly proving his billing as the country’s next Manny Pacquiao with his continued progress in training.
The 18-year-old WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion from Candijay-Bohol has shown remarkable development in his recent fights and has stunned many boxers above his weight divisions during sparring sessions.
Last Thrusday, Sun.Star Cebu saw how the world-champion-in-the-making floored the heavier Glen Masicampo with a wicked left hook to the jaw during sparring.
Masicampo, a fighter listed in the 135-pound division, fell to his knees and staggered after trying to get back up in the second of the four-round session.
“I never saw a boxer so stouthearted and determined as Bautista. Wearing 14-ounce sparring gloves and knocking down a sparring opponent who is wearing protective headgear and is four divisions higher than him is almost unimaginable,” said ALA Gym chief trainer Edito Villamor.
“Rey has knocked down a lot of boxers during sparring. He has kayoed Ryan del Prado, a featherweight, twice in sparring. He even knocked down Sherwin Paro (super-flyweight) in sparring. That’s how strong and tough he is,” said ALA Boys manager Antonio Aldeguer.
Taking it
Bautista has not only shown he can deliver killer punches: He can also take power punches from heavier opponents in the case of Masicampo and middleweight Japanese fighter Noriharu Iwatani, who climbed down the ring with a swollen right eye after another round of sparring last Thursday.
Bautista is expected to give the Cebuano boxing audience a satisfying show when he puts his belt at stake against South African Vuyisile Bebe on Jan. 29 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
“But we have to consider that sparring is different from actual fighting. Right now, we are trying to develop his punching. Bebe is dangerous, iron jawed, tough and most of all he is a natural fighter being an African,” said Aldeguer.
(January 1, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
